Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar Covered Up Sexual Molestation, Could Have Faced Prison Time In Cover-Up

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar knew about Josh Duggar’s sexual molesting his sisters, but covered up for their son by failing to report his activities to the authorities for at least 16 months, according to a newly released police report.

In Touch, who obtained the police report from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office under the Freedom of Information Act, reports Josh Duggar confessed to his father about the his sexual molestation of his sisters on three separate occasions. The report also reveals Josh was 15-years-old when he sexually molested his 5-year-old sister on seven separate occasions. Despite his confessions, Jim Bob Duggar failed to act and did not seek professional help for his son or the victims for at least 16 months. According to In Touch, if the statute of limitations had not expired, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar could have been charged with permitting abuse of a minor and faced up to six years in prison for their role in covering up the molestation. However, by the time the police launched their 2006 investigation into the molestation allegations, the statute of limitations had expired.

As the Inquisitr previously reported, when Jim Bob did tell a law enforcement official about Josh Duggar’s molestation of his sisters, the Duggar family patriarch downplayed the events and did not entirely tell the truth, according to an ex-state trooper involved in the case at that time. Former Arkansas state trooper Joseph Hutchens insists Jim Bob told him of only one incident involving Josh merely touching a victim’s clothing. Had the 19 Kids dad been honest, the ex-trooper insists he would have reported the incident immediately and a full investigation could have ensued.

“I did what I thought was right and obviously it wasn’t. If I had to do it over again, I would have told him immediately I am going to call the hotline and contacted the trooper that worked those cases and have a full report made. I thought I could handle it myself. I have lost a lot of sleep over it. I am a Christian myself and I worry that something else may have happened. I would be responsible for it, in my opinion, by not reporting it. The young girl should have been my first priority.”

Although TLC has yet to officially cancel 19 Kids and Counting, this newly released police report indicating Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar covered up their son’s crimes may make it difficult for the network to keep the show going financially, given how many advertisers have pulled the plug on the show already.